Can you be ‘successful’ in handmade business AND have a day job?
The question of ‘should I quit my job?’ is not an uncommon one.
Answering this question is a tad tricky as there are variables, and the answer will be different for different people.
However, there are three points that are key to remember as you ponder this.
- One, there is no rush! Don’t just quit rashly and end up regretting it.
- Two, you can hold a day job and run a successful business.
- Tnd three, perhaps most important, do not compare yourself to anyone else! You can be a successful handmade business owner AND hold down a day job – the two are not mutually exclusive.
In this episode I cover a number of key points that you need to consider before you chuck in the day job.
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Quotes and highlights from this episode:
- Building a business is not going to happen overnight.
- It takes time to develop a business. You must work hard and be dedicated. The growth will happen over time.
- Set goals for yourself. Allow wanting to quit your day job be the driving force behind the energy you put into your business.
- We all have life essentials, such as food, rent/mortgage, and medical expenses and those MUST get taken care of. Having a job to provide is something we all must do.
- You don’t need to go the all or nothing route. Think in steps.
- Can you switch your day job from full-time to part-time?
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!
- You don’t know if a business will be a success until you try it.
- Having your day job during these early stages offers support.
- Consider if you even want to run your business full-time.
- There is nothing wrong with having multiple sources of income.
- ‘Success is whatever it means to you, there is no right or wrong here.’ {Jess}
- Having a day job also allows you the opportunity for your business to gain momentum.
- Again, things take time to grow.
- Grow a customer base before you dive in completely.
- Also, you absolutely must build a safety net in the form of a savings account.
- Have at least 3-6 months of expenses saved and stored in an account you can’t be tempted to touch.
- Consider Parkinson’s Law, ‘work expands so as to fill the time available.’
- If you do your business say in the two hours after your day job, you will be ultra focused to get your work done.
- If you quit your day job and have all the time, you may lose productivity.
- Ultimately, do what is best for you!
- But be smart, consider if your business can support you, do you have a back up line, what is your safety net?
